Applied Rationality focuses on public policy issues and tries to take a liberal perspective that is consistent (comments to the posts will often show otherwise) with neoclassical, rational-choice economics.

Thursday, January 5, 2012

Could it be Magic? The NC Republicans' Midnight Special

In the wee, dark hours of this morning, North Carolina Republicans in the General Assembly put on a Midnight Special and showed us all a little bit of magic.

No, not this kind of magic.

Instead, Republicans performed some much cheesier magic (who knew that anything could be cheesier than Barry Manilow).

Republicans waited until six Democratic representatives had disappeared. They then gaveled a quickie legislative session in with just a few minutes of notice and made a previously vetoed bill to weaken state teachers labor representation magically re-appear.

Just after 1 a.m. today, in a secreted session critics called unconstitutional, Republican legislative leaders passed a bill aimed at weakening the state's largest teachers association.

Republicans over-rode the governor's veto and then promptly adjourned.

When blindsided Democrats and teachers complained, Republican House Speaker Thom Tillis, aka "the Amazing Tillini," accused them of not having enough magical thinking.

Speaking to reporters after the session, House Speaker Thom Tillis maintained the legislature was transparent and lawmakers and the public should have known this bill could come before the House, even though it was not noticed.

If there's any good news from this sorry performance, it's that we might all be spared Republican moralizing about how they will be different from their predecessors.